Recap of criteria to get a ride on school buses

Tuowanda Salgado, a mother of three who resides south of the Highway 120 bypass, was told by city leaders that sidewalks along Atherton Drive and not Woodward Avenue are still two years away. The latter was erroneously reported in Wednesday’s no-bus exemption story.

Salgado’s children attend Veritas School, with the family living inside the 1.5-mile radius no bus zone as established by the Manteca Unified School District as part of the Level II budget cuts. The youngsters were able to use the Manteca Transit Authority’s pilot route, but Salgado is hoping to qualify for the exemption.

Her case, however, must meet all of the following criteria rather than just one.

This includes:

•The bus must already travel upon the roadway in which the exception is requested.

•There must be sufficient space on the bus for the students at the excepted stop.

•The additional stop must provide space for enough students to warrant the stop.

•There must be a hardship.

•Exception may be granted as long as space is available and will not extend beyond the current school year. The exception may be removed at any time if space availability decreases with re-application necessary each school year to have the stop considered or reconsidered for the exception. The student can also board at a pre-established bus stop.

Information or forms on the exemptions can be obtained by calling the district office at (209) 825-3200.